Description: The three following drawings [BM 399-401], once in Carl Gustaf Tessin’s large group of drawings attributed to Brouwer, were later given to Cornelis Saftleven on the ground of stylistic similarities. They are perhaps closer in manner to Herman Saftleven, though they were not accepted as his work by Schulz. They display such weaknesses, however, that it seems preferable to ascribe them to a separate group of followers, imitators or copyists.

Black chalk, point of brush in grey, grey wash, 186 x 181 mm. Ruled framing lines in black ink. Scattered brown stains. Laid down. Inscribed in the lower right corner, in pen and brown ink, Braur (twice). Numbered in the lower right corner, in pen and brown ink, 1892 (Sparre). Mark of the Royal Collection (Lugt 1638).

A similar subject, the interior of a barn with objects stacked in the foreground, also traditionally ascribed to Cornelis Saftleven, is in the British Museum. Compared to that drawing, the present one is simplified, the objects frequently lacking interior modelling. Although the handling points to a trained draughtsman, the dryness of execution suggests a copy.  [Magnusson, Dutch Drawings no. 401]

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Cornelis Saftleven | Interiör av en lada | Nationalmuseum

Cornelis Saftleven | Interior of a Barn | Nationalmuseum

Foto: Hans Thorwid / Nationalmuseum, CC BY SA 